Suicide is recognized as a serious problem almost everywhere in this world. It has happened throughout history, but the sad fact is that suicide rates around the world have increased 60% during the past 40-50 years. There are probably many more true suicides than the statistics reveal, for often it is difficult to determine whether the death was self-inflicted, accidental, or a murder. Also, for every actual suicide, there are probably at least twenty attempts that fail.
Most suicides in Western countries (at least 90%) are related to depression and/or substance abuse, but the more recent increase among young people often seems to be linked to bullying and public shame, especially on social media such as Facebook and the Internet. Suicide is now the second most common cause of death in young people in Western countries. Other factors, especially in middle-aged men, include employment and financial problems.
Can a Believer Commit Suicide?
All this only underscores one of the awful effects of sin in this world, where men and women find life so hopeless that they take it into their hands to end their lives. Within a Christian perspective, some difficult questions arise: “Can a true believer commit suicide?” “What happens if a true believer takes his/her own life?” “Does a believer who commits suicide go to be with Christ?” These questions have plagued Christians for many years, and, as we might expect, the answers that have been postulated have ranged over a wide spectrum.
Some have used the verse, “Ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15), to argue that since suicide is self-murder, the person committing the act could not possibly be saved. Others will admit that a true Christian could commit suicide, but feel that such a thing would be extremely rare. They would cast a large element of doubt on the salvation of someone who committed suicide. However, some go to the other extreme, saying that since there is no specific prohibition of suicide in the Bible, it is therefore a personal decision. It is not necessarily a sin, as it depends on all the circumstances. As always, it is important that we are found “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
Seven Cases in the Bible
Seven suicides are recorded in the Bible. Of these, some were clearly men who pursued a wrong course and committed suicide under bad circumstances. Included in this group are those like Abimelech (Judg. 9:54), King Saul (1 Sam. 31:4), Ahithophel (2 Sam. 17:23), Zimri, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:5). We know nothing of Saul’s armorbearer (1 Sam. 31:5), except that when he saw that Saul was dead, he too killed himself. The final man, Samson (Judg. 16:30), is rather unique, for while he did indeed cause his own death, his real goal was to kill Philistines, not himself. He died as the result of his breaking the pillars of Dagon’s temple, thus causing it to collapse and kill thousands of the Philistines as well. Although he was doubtless a truly born-again soul, yet the situation in which he found himself was also the result of pursuing a wrong course.
What Scripture Says
In view of these examples, as well as the strong words about murder in both the Old and New Testaments, it is hard to see how it can be argued that suicide is not condemned in the Bible. Nowhere is it ever mentioned in a right sense; nowhere is it ever connected with one who walked with God in a consistent way. Man was created in “the image of God” (Gen. 1:27), and to take that life, even one’s own, is a serious affront to our Creator. The psalmist could say, “My times are in thy hand” (Psa. 31:15), and it is only the Lord who has right to decide when our lives should end. (Let us be clear, however, that we are in no way referring to the responsibility of governments to execute a murderer. This charge was given of God after the flood (Gen. 9:6) and has never been rescinded.)
What then about a believer who commits suicide? Sad to say, this has happened many times. Sometimes it is due to a wrong course, where a lifestyle away from the Lord has led perhaps to substance abuse, financial ruin, and ultimately estrangement from one’s family. In other cases, it is the result of severe depression connected with mental illness, where one is plunged into the blackness of despair. In still other cases, killing oneself has been a considered decision in order to avoid potential shame and dishonor. For example, at the time of the reformation, a woman and her two daughters deliberately drowned themselves rather than fall into the hands of their persecutors, whom they perceived would not only torture them, but dishonor them in a moral way.
In Every Case It Is Wrong
We have to say again that no matter what the circumstances, committing suicide is surely wrong. In the case of the woman and her daughters who drowned themselves rather than be morally defiled, we hesitate to condemn them too strongly, for those of us who live in lands where we have religious freedom have never been faced with this. Likewise it is hard to be too critical of those who succumb to severe depression, for some of us have never had to endure such agony. The well-known hymn writer Wm. Cowper had this problem, and he made at least three suicide attempts during his lifetime. But the Lord did not allow him to succeed. All of his attempts failed, and he died a natural death. Yet we know that God gives the grace for whatever circumstances he allows in our lives, and He will enable us to glorify Him in those circumstances. He could say to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Cor. 12:9), and surely this is just as true for us today.
Eternal Life Is Never Lost
What happens to a believer who does, in fact, take his life? May we suggest that one or two verses settle it. Scripture says that, concerning Christ’s sheep, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28). Despite the seriousness of taking one’s own life, there is no sin that can take away the eternal life God gives to the believer. He is also “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13), and nothing can break that seal.
I well remember attending the funeral of a relatively young believer who had committed suicide. He had suffered from terrible bouts of depression, and finally he took his own life, feeling that he could not go on any longer. The one who spoke at his funeral used the scripture from Hebrews 11:35, concerning those who were “tortured, not accepting deliverance.” He pointed out that this young man had been tortured by awful thoughts that plunged him into the depths of despair. While the speaker did not, in any way, condone what the young man had done, yet he pointed out, in Hebrews 11:39, that “these all ... obtained a good report through faith.” It was a good application of the scripture and brought real comfort to his family, all of whom were believers.
In conclusion, then, we affirm from the Word of God that it can never be right before God for anyone, especially a true believer, to commit suicide. However, Christians can, and do, sometimes commit suicide, and it is equally true that no true believer can lose his salvation; one who kills himself does, in fact, go to be with Christ.
Circumstances
We might also add, however, that in many cases, whether among unbelievers or believers, suicide results from exterior factors such as financial ruin, substance abuse, public shame and disgrace, and other influences over which we usually have some control. If we find ourselves, as believers, on a downward course, may the Lord give us grace to repent and turn to Him, before circumstances lead us into despair and suicidal thoughts. If we find ourselves facing financial troubles, let us look to the Lord, who has promised to supply all our need.
For those who may find themselves drawn into a potentially harmful interchange on social media, let us ask the Lord for grace to get out of that scenario, before we are in serious trouble. Better still, let us not start into something with worldly people that can only end in trouble.
With regard to exterior circumstances over which we have no control, or bouts of depression that are the result of true mental illness, it is beyond the scope of this article to go into all the ramifications. But let us remember that the Lord is there for us, whatever He may allow. Also, he has given us our brethren, who can be a real support for us, and medical help too, of which we can, and should, avail ourselves. Paul could say, “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
Shepherding Care
Perhaps one more word is in order here to those of us who are not tortured by depression or involved with other factors that predispose to suicide. Shepherding care is most important, and we need to be aware of those who may be hurting badly, and perhaps having serious thoughts of taking their own life. Reaching out in a loving way, being willing to listen, letting them know that someone cares, can go a long way toward preventing this ultimate act of wrong to oneself. We are “our brother’s keeper” and should always be sensitive to emotional hurt in the lives of others. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).
W. J. Prost